Flying-machine.



0. SHUMATE.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 191a.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 awuowto'n 0/147 6774/22/16? wi/waoow a t 10:41 M3 coumm PLANOO O. SHUMATB.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILB'D MAR.15, 191a.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 GBBBTB-SHEBT 2.

Gimme/1 wLuMmA m/muuuwn c4, WASHINGTON. n. r.

NTD STATES PATENT 0FFIE OBEN SHUIVIATE, 0F MINNEOLA, KANSAS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed March 15,

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, Oman SHUMATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minne: ola, in the county of Clark and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful I mprovements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines of the heavier-than-air type, and particularly to means for maintainmg the lateral and longitudinal equilibrium of craft of this cha actor.

The object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and ellicient gravity-eontrolled means embodying a weighted pendulum which may be normally held elevated when its use is not required and adjusted downwardly to an operative position when necessary, so that it will oppose a resistance to the tilting of the machine out of a balanced position in any direction.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'Vide simple, reliable and efficient means for staying or reinforcing the projected pendulum and preventing it from straining the machine, and also to provide improved means for raising and lowering the pendulum and locking it in elevated position at the will of the aviator.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view the balancing device in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the balancing device retracted. Fig. 3 is a vertical fore and aft section in the plane of the balancing device. Fig. i is a detail view of the means for raising and lowering the balancing device. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the automatic winding drums.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have shown the application of my invention to a biplane, 1 and 2 designate the upper and lower planes or supporting surfaces of the machine, which are provided with alined openings 3 through which extends a vertically movable balancing rod or stall 4. This rod or staff is provided at its lower end with a balancing weight 5 and at its upper end with a stop 6 to abut against the upper plane 1 and limit its downward movement. Guy cables or wires 7 are secured to the weighted showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

1913. Serial No. 754,430.

end of the rod or staff and thence extend to the respective corners of the plane 2, at which points they pass around reels or pulleys 8, each of which is of the automatic winding variety, being adapted for revolution in a winding direction by means of a spring 9. The cables 7 are adapted to be unwound from the pulleys by the weight of the red when the latter is moved downward to the balancing position shown in Fig. 1, in which position of the rod the cables are maintained under tension and thus reinforce the rod and prevent it from vibrating and throwing strain upon the body of the machine. lVhen the rod is drawn upwardly to the retracted position shown in Fig. 2 the self-winding drums or pulleys 8 take up the slack in the cables which lie against the under side of the plane 2, thus diminishing the head resistance of the machine to flight when the balancing device is not in use.

It will be understood that when the balancing device is lowered to a greater or less extent, it will correspondingly lower the center of gravity of the machine, and will operate as a pendulum lever opposing a resistance to the tilting of the machine in any direction, whereby the stability of the machine will be maintained. lVhenever it is desired to bank the machine, as in describing sharp curves, it will, of course, be understood that the balancing device may be retracted or 'aised to diminish its resistance to the required degree against tilting of the machine.

In order to enable the balancing device to be readily raised and lowered I provide a drum 10 to which is connected a rope or cable 11 passing over one or more guide pulleys 12 and downward through the open ing 3 in the plane 2 and connected with the weighted end of the rod or shaft, whereby when the drum is revolved in one direction the rope 11 will be wound up to raise the balancing rod, while when the drum is revolved in the reverse direction the rod will be permitted to descend to the desired extent under its own weight. For convenience in revolving the drum to raise the rod, the drum is provided with a ratchet surface 12 adapted to be engaged by a feed pawl 13 on a hand or foot lever 14., whereby when the lever is moved on its feed motion the drum will be actuated to wind up the cable. A.

check pawl 15 is provided to normally hold the drum from retrograde rotation, and a friction brake 16 is provided for engagement with the drum to regulate its speed of retrograde rotation and the descent of the balancing rod when the check pawl is released. The brake is adapted to be controlled hy a hand or foot lever 16 with which cooperates a member 17 adapted to engage and throw the check pawl out of action when the brake band is tightened. It will thus be understood that when the brake band is released the check pawl will engage and hold the drum from retrograde rotation, thus locking the balancing staff in adjusted position, while upon applying the brake the check pawl will be retracted allowing the balancing rod to move down ward at a regulated speed and to any desired degree below the supporting surface 52 as occasion may require in the operation of the machine. The balancing device is thus placed at all times under the ready and complete control of the aviator.

In practice, the balancing rod, for a one aassen er aero Jlane must be of such len th as to project, when fully extended, a dis tance of about 16 feet below the bottom of the machine, in order to secure the desired balancing effect. The rod and its controlling parts are preferably made as light in i oaneeo weight as possible, the weight 5 ranging ordinarily from 10 to 12 pounds.

I claim In a flying machine, the combination of a gliding structure, of a pendulum rod mounted for vertical movement thereon, a drum provided with ratchet teeth and a brakesurface a band brake to engage said brakesurface, a raising and lowering line adapted to wind upon the drum and connect it with the pendulum rod, a spring actuated check pawl adapted to engage the ratchet teeth to hold the same from unwinding motion, said pawl having a controlling projection, a lever with a pawl to engage the ratchet teeth to actuate the drum on its winding motion, and a control lever operative to simultaneously apply the brake band and engage the retracting projection of the check pawl to throw said pawl out of action, or to simultaneously relax the brake band and release the retracting projection of the pawl to permit said pawl to move into action.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

S W. STATTON.

@optea of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents', Washington, I). G. 

